Honours information
The Honours program
- a pathway to rewarding research opportunities at one of Australia's leading universities
- a beacon for employers, signalling your ability to acquire advanced analytical skills, to develop original ideas, to work independently and to apply innovative solutions to complex problems
- a year that promises to be stimulating, rewarding and challenging as you engage more closely with a field of knowledge that excites your curiousity.
Why Honours in French or Italian?
- you will gain considerable practical skills such as research skills, reporting writing, presentation and communication skills, language skills, and international and cultural awareness
- you will have the opportunity to study at a university in Italy or in a French-speaking country.
Where do Arts Honours graduates go?
A recent survey of graduates (including Honours students) showed that a large number went on to further postgraduate study, while others were successful in finding work in the following areas:
- State and Federal government: public service, diplomatic service.
- Local government: libraries, education, policy, interpreting and translating.
- Private companies: international trade, media, airline industry, public relations, travel and tourism, law.
- Teaching: primary and secondary.
- Research: universities, government.
But the possibilities are endless. It’s up to you …
Faculty of Arts requirements for honours
Completion of a major in French or Italian; avarage score of at least H2B or better at 2nd and 3rd year levels.
Honours courses available
Degrees may be Pure Honours in French or Italian, or Combined with another area of study.
When does Honours start?
You should start thinking about your research project well before the start of the official semester of enrolment.
Both beginning of year and mid-year starts are available. The beginning of year cohort of students is larger, as it ties in with Honours Language 1 and 2 modules.
Selecting a thesis topic
Choosing a workable (and rewarding) thesis topic is crucial to the success and enjoyment of your Honours year. You should be thinking about this during your third year. Decide which area within the discipline interests you most, then start to try to identify a problem which could be investigated within the very limited time-frame of fourth year Honours. Your supervisor is there to advise you, but ultimately it is your responsibility to define the topic - that is an important skill to learn in research training. Very few students hit on the one perfect idea straight away - most have to work to refine the idea over thefirst few weeks of their research - so be prepared to be flexible.
Finding a thesis supervisor
- Look at staff research projects and interests.
- Make contact with prospecitve supervisors via email to discuss possible thesis topics & supervisory arrangements.
- Ask the question: is this the right supervisor and the right thesis topic for me?
Timing your research
You should start as early as possible, certainly before the official beginning of the academic year in March. Many of the most successful honours students start soon after the end of the previous semester in order to take advantage of the summer vacation.
Official deadlines are advised in detail at the start of the academic year, but you should take note of these general timelines:
Mid November preceding your Honours year
Identification of potential supervisor/s and clarification of the thesis topic; application to FRITSS Office.
Beginning of Semester 1
Clear statement of the research problem
Beginning of October
Full draft of thesis
Mid October
Honours seminar presentation
Mid November
Submission of final version of thesis
How do you apply?
- Finalise your supervisor in conjunction with the French or Italian honours coordinator.
- Prepare a 300 word summary of your thesis proposal.
- Apply for honours entry via the on-line application system available at: https://sis.unimelb.edu.au/cgi-bin/course-application.pl
You must then print off a hard copy of the application, have it signed by the staff member who will supervise you, and submit it (along with your thesis proposal and any necessary attachments) to the Faculty of Arts Office (room 104, Ground Foor, Old Arts Building) no later than 31 October (for entry in semester 1) or 31 May (for entry in semester 2).
Deferring Honours
You can defer Honours for a year if you wish. However your should continue to remain in contact with a potential supervisor and keep him or her advised.
French/Italian research methods seminars
These fortnightly seminars run in the 1st semester of your honours year and focus on:
- library skills
- planning a fourth year research project
- thesis structure
- writing skills in French and in Italian
- presentation and bibliography.